Padh Yatra

With the intent to strengthen our community and deepen understanding of our world, inner & outer, we are seeking to go on a journey this April. A Walking Pilgrimage (पद-यात्रा) into the mountains.

The idea of doing a Walking Pilgrimage emerged in ONUS cohort in 2015 and it turned out to be one of the most powerful experiences of the one-year program. And post that we have been doing it with our alumni community every year. In our journeys of leadership, we are called to negotiate between many choices (of what we love and what we have to do; of structure & flow etc.); through the padh-yatra we are creating a space to understand these choices more deeply by learning from nature. Four major aspects of the journey are as follows:

WALK: Jayesh Bhai, our mentor says "WALK means, W: Witness, A: Accept, L: Learn and K: Know Thyself. With special significance in our traditions, I guess walking is the most natural way of journeying; Of being present to the journey, to what is."

Oneness: Aren't we all one? Think by any logic, physically, biologically, metaphysically etc. But the question is how do we experience it continuously?; given the walls of separation that we have created around us of ideology, competition, species, religion and so on. Through the पद-यात्रा, we together try and blur the boundaries of separation and experience oneness with other living and non-living beings. And can we challenge ourselves to imagine a life of extremism of love like the Sun or the Earth? आ चल के तुझे मैं लेके चलूँ इक ऐसे गगन के तले.

Learning from Nature: We shall hold a question that is stopping us from moving forward and seek to learn from nature. Although, we will all be in a collective journey, each one of us will have a different experience, we shall see what our vision accepts and we shall learn what we are ready to learn. So, what is the question you are willing to ask?

Joy: This is guaranteed We wish to unwind, relax, enjoy and have fun in the company of nature and each other.

Accommodation: During the period we plan to stay for a night each at a basic guest house and in tents in the wilderness.

Participation: The participation is capped at 25 to let the experience be deep. We shall close the applications once we reach the desired number.

Suggested Contribution is 3500 INR which is based on the actual cost. Financial contribution, in any case, cannot limit you to be part of the journey. If there is some difficulty in contributing financially, reach out to us and we will figure a way out, together.

Ashita

'I witnessed human connection at the very raw form in these two days where nobody (mostly) knew other names to everybody feeling connected deeply with each other, happened. I witnessed the magic of an open and free space where we could cry out loud, we could display immense gratitude for the motivation to climb up despite of the physical uneasiness, where our privacy is valued without any judgments. That is the power of group.' Read more

Rachit

'Our silence talked, I discerned how silence being the universal language is ‘spoken’ across biodiversity, transcends the demarcations of men and nature alike. Rumi puts it best “Silence is the language of god, all else is poor translation”. As the dusk fell we huddled back to our beautiful nest, quickly earthed deep into our comfy beds envisioning the walking pilgrimage that we were to take the following day.' Here's the full reflection: The lust of a mountain goat

Heena

'Meeting all of you passionate souls along with nature's magic enriched my soul. More than any questions or answers, I went with a burden that I have subjected my soul to, from last 8 years. I had tried everything I could to free myself from these shackles and I believe I have finally been able to do that.' Read more..